Laterally actuated device for dispensing a fluid product

ABSTRACT

A fluid dispenser device including a body ( 10 ), a reservoir ( 20 ), a dispenser head ( 100 ), and a dispenser member ( 30 ) mounted by a fastener ring ( 60 ). The device includes a lateral actuator system ( 40 ) secured to the body ( 10 ) and having an actuator element ( 41 ) movable between a rest position and an actuated position. The lateral actuator system ( 40 ) includes a presser element ( 42 ) mounted on the body ( 10 ) to pivot about an axis (A). The actuator element ( 41 ) is mounted on the presser element ( 42 ) to pivot about an axis (B) that is substantially parallel to the axis (A). The actuator element ( 41 ) co-operates with the presser element ( 42 ) by a multi-directional ball joint ( 400 ) that enables the actuator element ( 41 ) to pivot about the axis (B) and to move relative to the presser element ( 42 ) in at least one other direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/FR2012/050577 filed Mar. 19, 2012, claiming priority based on FrenchPatent Application No. 11 52312 filed Mar. 21, 2011, the contents of allof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to a laterally actuated fluid dispenserdevice, and more particularly to a nasal-spray device for apharmaceutical.

Fluid dispenser devices are well known in the state of the art. Theygenerally include a reservoir containing the fluid, on which reservoirthere is assembled a dispenser member, e.g. a pump or a valve, that isgenerally actuated by means of a dispenser head for selectivelydispensing the fluid contained inside said reservoir. The dispenser headincludes a dispenser orifice through which the fluid is sprayed, e.g.into the user's nose for a nasal-spray device. Numerous devices of thistype are actuated manually by the user by moving the reservoir and thedispenser head axially against each other, thereby actuating thedispenser member. However, this type of device presents drawbacks, inparticular when the device is of the nasal-spray type, since the axialforce exerted by the user in order to actuate the device leads to a riskof the dispenser head moving inside the user's nostril, with risks ofinjury and/or of the fluid not being dispensed completely or properly onactuation. In order to remedy this problem, lateral actuator deviceshave been proposed, generally including a lever that is pivotallymounted on a body and that has an inner portion that is adapted toco-operate with one of the dispenser head and the reservoir so as tomove said element against the other, and thus actuate the dispensermember. However, such lateral actuator devices present a certain numberof problems. Thus, they generally induce radial stresses duringactuation, which stresses may also have negative influences on thespraying of the composition into the user's nostril. They may presentproblems of reliability during actuation, with, in some circumstances,risks of blockages that might prevent any actuation. Generally, theyinclude movable parts that impose a clearly defined actuation direction,with risks of malfunctioning in the event of actuation in a directionthat is a little offset. They potentially generate noise duringactuation or when the device is shaken, and this can be perceivednegatively by the user. They are often quite difficult to assemble, andassembly is generally possible only after filling with the fluid that isto be dispensed, and this imposes complex assembly lines for amanufacturer of the active substances who is generally different fromthe manufacturer of the lateral actuator device. Documents WO2005/075105 and WO 2009/153513 describe prior-art devices

An object of the present invention is to provide a laterally actuatedfluid dispenser device that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laterallyactuated fluid dispenser device, in particular a nasal spray, thatguarantees safe and reliable actuation of the device on each actuation,without risk of injury to the user.

More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide afluid dispenser device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture andto assemble.

The present invention thus provides a fluid dispenser device comprisinga body, a reservoir, a dispenser head incorporating a dispenser orifice,and a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, that is mounted onsaid reservoir by means of a fastener ring, said dispenser membercomprising a dispenser-member body and a movable member that movesaxially in said dispenser-member body while said dispenser member isbeing actuated, said device further comprising a lateral actuator systemthat is secured to said body, said system including an actuator elementthat is movable, substantially transversally to the direction ofmovement of said movable member, between a rest position in which saiddispenser member is not actuated, and an actuated position in which saiddispenser member is actuated, said lateral actuator system including apresser element that is mounted on the body to pivot about an axis A,said actuator element being mounted on said presser element to pivotabout an axis B that is substantially parallel to said axis A, saidactuator element co-operating with said presser element by means of amulti-directional ball joint that both enables said actuator element topivot about the axis B, and also enables said actuator element to moverelative to said presser element in at least one other direction.

Advantageously, said multi-directional ball joint includes a hollowhousing that is rounded at least in part and that is formed on saidpresser element, said actuator element including a complementary profilethat co-operates with said hollow housing, forming an annular linearconnection piece between said actuator element and said presser element,enabling said actuator element to pivot on said presser element about atleast one pivot axis B, and enabling said actuator element to move intranslation on said presser element 42 along said pivot axis B.

Advantageously, said actuator element (41) may pivot relative to saidpresser element about a pivot axis C that is substantially perpendicularto said axis B.

Advantageously, said multi-directional ball joint includes abutmentmeans, so as to limit said pivoting about the pivot axis C.

Advantageously, said abutment means comprise two supports that areformed on said presser element, projecting from each side of said hollowhousing, and co-operating with a respective portion of the actuatorelement so as to define the end positions for pivoting about said pivotaxis C.

Advantageously, said hollow housing is in the shape of a rounded groovethat extends in the direction of axis B, and the complementary profileformed on the actuator element includes a rounded shape that is adaptedto pivot in said groove and to move in translation along it.

Advantageously, said body includes at least one guide surface forguiding said actuator element, said at least one guide surface beingstationary relative to said dispenser head and substantially parallel tothe movement axis of the movable member in the dispenser-member bodywhile said dispenser member is being actuated, said actuator elementincluding at least one end edge that is preferably rounded and thatco-operates with said at least one guide surface.

Advantageously, said actuator element includes at least one flank thatextends substantially from the pivot axis B of said actuator element tosaid guide surface, the end edge of said flank being rounded and slidingover said guide surface during actuation, each flank including a radialprojection that extends on one side of said flank in the proximity ofits end edge, said radial projection having a top edge that ispreferable rounded and that co-operates with said radial flange of saidfastener ring.

Advantageously, said actuator element includes two flanks that extendparallel to each other, said radial projections facing each other.

Advantageously, said actuator element includes a resilient element, suchas a resilient blade, that co-operates with said presser element so asto urge said actuator element away from said presser element.

Advantageously, said actuator element of the lateral actuator systemco-operates directly with said fastener ring during actuation.

These characteristics and advantages and others of the present inventionappear more clearly from the following detailed description of severalembodiments and variants thereof, given by way of non-limiting example,and with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view in section of a device in anadvantageous embodiment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views of a device in an advantageousembodiment, shown in section respectively in two different sectionplanes;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic section views of two advantageous variantembodiments;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic perspective views of details of anadvantageous embodiment, shown respectively in two different positions;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic section view of a device in an advantageousembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary and diagrammatic view of a device in anadvantageous embodiment, while the device is being assembled; and

FIGS. 10 to 13 show diagrams showing four successive stages in theassembly of an advantageous embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, which show a first advantageousembodiment, the fluid dispenser device includes a body 10 in which thereis assembled a reservoir 20 that contains fluid, in particular apharmaceutical, for spaying into the user's nose. A dispenser member 30,such as a pump or a valve, is assembled on said reservoir 20 by means ofa fastener ring 60 that may be crimpable, snap-fastenable, or screwfastenable. The fastener ring 60 may be made of metal, e.g. aluminum, orof plastics material. In a variant, it could also be made of twomaterials, with one portion made of plastics material and one portionmade of metal, typically by overmolding. The dispenser member comprisesa dispenser-member body 31, such as a pump body or a valve body, and amovable member 35, such as a piston rod or a valve member, that ismounted to slide axially in said dispenser-member body. In conventionalmanner, the movable member 35 is driven into the dispenser-member body31, so as to actuate said dispenser member 30. This is showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1, with the movable member 35, which in thisembodiment is a pump piston, in its rest position in a pump body 31.Advantageously, a dispenser head 100 is assembled on said dispensermember 30, said dispenser head 100 incorporating a dispenser orifice 5through which the fluid is dispensed. In the embodiments shown, the head100 is secured to the body 10 of the device or is fastened thereto. Thehead 100 may also be made integrally with said body. The body 10 may bemade as a single piece, or it may advantageously comprise a top portionthat is associated with the dispenser head 100, and a bottom portion 10′that comes to be fastened to the top portion while the device is beingassembled. This is shown in the embodiments in the drawings. In thedescription below, reference is made to the body 10, with it beingunderstood that this encompasses both of the above-mentioned variants.

The device includes a lateral actuator system 40 that is secured to thebody 10 and that is adapted to co-operate with the fastener ring 60 thatfastens the dispenser member 30 on the reservoir 20. The lateralactuator system 40 includes an actuator element 41 that is mounted tomove inside a presser element 42, in substantially pivoting manner aboutan axis B. The presser element 42 itself is mounted on the body 10 topivot about an axis A, substantially parallel to said axis B. The userpresses on the presser element 42, preferably via an appropriate presserzone so as to cause the presser element 42 to pivot relative to the body10, about the axis A. The pivoting of the presser element 42 causes theactuator element 41 to pivot relative to said presser element 42, aboutthe axis B, and thus causes the dispenser member 30 to be actuated. Theactuator element 41 is thus movable in a direction that is substantiallytransverse to the direction in which the movable member 35 of thedispenser member is movable. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 8 to13 in particular, the actuator element 41 advantageously includes aresilient element 415, such as a resilient blade, that bears against theinside of the presser element 42 so as to urge said actuator element 41resiliently away from said presser element 42. The resilient elementcould be provided in some other way, e.g. in the form of any spring. Theresilient element guarantees that the actuator element 41 is alwaysurged into contact with a guide surface 50, as explained below. It alsoenables assembly to be safe and reliable, as described below.

In an advantageous aspect, the actuator element 41 co-operates with thepresser element 42 via an annular linear connection piece 400,designated below by a multi-directional ball joint. The ball joint notonly enables said actuator element 41 to pivot about the axis B, butalso enables relative movement between said actuator element 41 and saidpresser element 42 in other directions, in particular about a pivot axisC that is substantially perpendicular to said axis B. It also enables acertain amount of movement in translation in the direction of axis B.The ball joint is shown in particular in FIGS. 6 and 7. This structureguarantees perfect positioning of the actuator element 41, compensatingand/or accommodating manufacturing tolerances of the plastic parts. Theball joint also makes it possible to compensate for poor actuation ofthe presser element 42 by the user, typically actuation is an offsetactuation. This guarantees that the dispenser member 30 is actuatedcorrectly in all circumstances, and thus increases the reliability ofthe device.

Advantageously, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 8 in particular, saidmulti-directional ball joint 400 may include a hollow housing 401 thatis rounded at least in part and that is formed on said presser element42. The actuator element 41 thus includes a complementary profile 402that co-operates with said hollow housing 401, enabling said actuatorelement 41 to move on said presser element 42 in at least two differentdirections, typically at least about axes B and C. A certain amount ofmovement in translation is also possible along axis B. Naturally, it ispossible to envisage relative movement in an infinite number ofdirections, e.g. if the hollow housing is spherical and if thecomplementary profile of the actuator element is also spherical and canturn in any direction inside the spherical housing. In an advantageousvariant, the hollow housing 401 may have the shape of a rounded groovethat extends in the direction of axis B, and the complementary profileformed on the actuator element may include a rounded shape that issuitable for pivoting in said groove and moving in translation along it.In a variant, it may also be envisaged to make the ball joint in inversemanner, with a projecting profile that is rounded in part, e.g.spherical in part, formed on the presser element 42, coming to bepositioned in an appropriate hollow housing of the actuator element 41.In this configuration, the hollow housing is formed on the actuatorelement, and the complementary profile on the presser element. Othervariants may also be envisaged.

Preferably, said multi-directional ball joint 400 includes abutmentmeans 405, so as to limit said pivoting about the pivot axis C. As canbe seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the abutment means 405 may comprise twosupports that are formed on said presser element 42, projecting fromeach side of said hollow housing. Each support co-operates with arespective portion of the actuator element 41 so as to define the endpositions for pivoting about said pivot axis C, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7respectively. Advantageously, each of the supports includes a roundedtop profile that is adapted to guide said actuator element 41 towards anappropriate position relative to said presser element 42. The actuatorelement 41 thus also includes rounded portions that co-operate with saidrounded profiles of the supports. In particular, this makes it possibleto return axis B to being parallel to axis A, in the event of theactuator element 41 pivoting relative to the presser element about avertical axis in FIGS. 6 and 7, thereby causing one to be offsetrelative to the other.

In another advantageous aspect, the body 10 of the device includes atleast one guide surface 50, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 9 to 13in particular, that serves to guide the actuator element 41 during itsactuation stroke, i.e. while it is pivoting, when the user actuates thelateral actuator system 40. As can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular, theguide surface 50 is vertical and axial, i.e. it is substantiallyparallel to the central axis of the dispenser member, which central axisis the movement axis of the movable member 35 in the dispenser-memberbody 31 while the dispenser member 30 is being actuated. The guidesurface 50 may be plane, as shown in FIG. 3. It is stationary relativeto the body 10 and to the dispenser head 100 during actuation. Inparticular, it may be formed on the body 10, as shown in FIG. 3, or onthe head 100, as shown in FIG. 9 in particular. The guide surface 50thus serves in particular to reduce, and in particular to eliminate, theradial stresses that are exerted by the lateral actuator system 40 whilethe device is being actuated. In this way, when the user actuates thedevice, there is no longer any risk of the dispenser head 100 movingsideways in the nostril, with the risk of all or some of the compositionbeing ejected inappropriately. Advantageously, the actuator element 41includes at least one rounded contact zone 411 for co-operating with theguide surface 50 over the entire actuation stroke. This enables frictionagainst the guide surface to be minimized, so as to minimize the impactof the presence of the guide surface 50 on the resistance of the lateralactuator system to being actuated.

Advantageously, the fastener ring 60 includes a first fastener portionthat co-operates with the reservoir 20 so as to fasten said fastenerring 60 on said reservoir 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thefirst portion is crimped on the neck of the reservoir, but a differentfastening, e.g. snap-fastening or screw-fastening, may also beenvisaged. The fastener ring 60 includes a second portion thatco-operates with the dispenser member 30 so as to fasten said dispensermember 30 in said fastener ring 60. By way of example, the secondportion may include a shoulder 65 that extends substantially radiallyinwards and that is adapted to fasten a portion of the dispenser member30 between said shoulder 65 and the top edge of the reservoir. In theembodiment in FIG. 1, which shows a pump 30 including a piston 35 with aferrule 38 that defines the rest position of said piston, it is aportion of said ferrule 38 and a neck gasket 39 that are arranged insaid second portion of the fastener ring 60. Said ring also includes athird portion that comprises an axial sleeve 63 that is provided at itstop end with a top radial flange 61 that extends radially outwards.

In an advantageous aspect, the actuator element 41 optionallyco-operates directly with said radial flange 61 of the fastener ring 60during actuation. In particular, said actuator element 41 advantageouslyincludes at least one flank 410 that extends substantially from thepivot axis B of said actuator element 41 to said guide surface 50. Theend edge 411 of said flank 410 is preferably rounded and is adapted toslide over said guide surface 50 during actuation. Each flank 410further includes a radial projection 412 that extends on one side ofsaid flank in the proximity of its end edge. The radial projection 412includes a top edge 413 that is preferably rounded and that is adaptedto co-operate with the bottom edge of said radial flange 61 of saidfastener ring 60, as can be seen in FIG. 1 in particular. It should beobserved that in the rest position, it is preferable to provide a smallgap between the top edge 413 of the radial projection 412 and the bottomedge of the radial flange 61. The gap may be guaranteed by the resilientblade 415 that urges the actuator element 41 away from the presserelement 42. The small gap exists only at the very start of actuation,there is no contact between the actuator element 41 and the radialflange 61, this contact taking place after a small dead stroke at thestart of each actuation. This can be seen in FIG. 13 in particular.

The embodiment described in FIGS. 6 and 7 in particular, shows anactuator element 41 with two flanks 410 that are substantially parallelto each other, with the projections 412 facing inwards and thus facingeach other. Thus, the two radial projections 412 of the actuator element41 are arranged outside said axial sleeve 63 of the fastener ring 60,with the top edge 413 of each radial projection 412 in contact with saidradial flange 61. Simultaneously, each of the rounded end edges 411 ofthe two flanks 410 co-operates with a corresponding guide surface 50.This guarantees good robustness, good stability, and reliable operationof the lateral actuator system. This also makes it possible to assemblethe actuator element 41 in safe and reliable manner around the fastenerring 60, as described more fully below. Advantageously, said two flanks410 present a certain amount of springiness that enables them to moveapart during assembly and to compensate for certain manufacturingtolerances.

In another advantageous aspect, said at least one guide surface 50includes resistance means 55 that modify the co-operation between saidactuator element 41 and said guide surface 50. Thus, in order to bepassed over, said resistance means 55 require the user to act on saidactuator element 41 with an actuation force that is different, inparticular that is greater. FIGS. 4 and 5 show two variant embodimentsin which the guide surface 50 includes a projecting profile 55 on theslide stroke of the actuator element 41. In the embodiment in FIG. 4,the profile includes a shoulder that connects a first guide surfaceportion to a second guide surface portion. Advantageously, the shoulderslopes, at least a little, it being possible for the slope to beselected as a function of the desired resistance. In the embodiment inFIG. 4, which shows the rest position, it should be observed that saidshoulder comes into contact with the rounded end edge 411 of theactuator element after a first portion of the actuation stroke. The usermust thus exert a greater force in order to enable said actuator elementto pass over said shoulder, and then continue the actuation stroke overthe second portion of the guide surface. This guarantees that actuationis complete, and avoids any risk of the dispenser member being poorlyactuated. In particular, the shoulder blocks the actuator element untilthe force exerted by the user is sufficient to pass over the shoulder.The user thus accumulates energy that is suddenly released when theactuator element succeeds in passing over said shoulder. The embodimentin FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment in FIG. 4 in that the guidesurface 50 includes a projection that co-operates with the actuatorelement 41 from the start of its actuation stroke. Thus, in FIG. 5 whichalso shows the rest position, the actuator element is already in contactwith said projection. Thus, right from the start of actuation, the usermust exert a force that is sufficient to enable the actuator element topass over said projection. As in the embodiment in FIG. 4, the useraccumulates energy in the hand, which energy is suddenly released aftersaid actuator element has passed over said projection. The actuationstroke is thus complete, guaranteeing correct actuation of the dispensermember.

Other variant embodiments of resistance means are possible, alwaysformed on the guide surface 50. For example, the surface coating of saidguide surface may be modified, e.g. so as to increase friction locallyand thus constrain the user to exert greater actuation force. Thus, evenwithout a profile or a projection, it is possible to modify theconditions of co-operation between the actuator element and the guidesurface.

It is advantageous to form the resistance means on the guide surface,which guide surface is stationary relative to the body and to the headof the device, including during actuation. In particular, it is possiblefor the force required to pass over the resistance means to bepredetermined easily and for it to be reproducible.

Another advantage of the resistance means formed on the guide surface isthat they prevent accidental actuation of the device, at least in part.At the start of actuation, or close to the start of actuation, a certainamount of force is required to pass over the resistance means, such thatthe resistance means provide a certain amount of security againstaccidental use.

In another advantageous aspect, the reservoir 20 slides in the body 10during actuation. Thus, the actuator element 41 presses beneath theradial flange 61 of the fastener ring 60, causing the reservoir 20 tomove in the body 10. This actuates the dispenser member 30, specificallythe pump in the embodiments shown. In order to hold the body 10, inparticular during storage or transport, it advantageously includes asleeve 15 that is adapted to be arranged, at least in part, around aportion of the reservoir 20. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8 inparticular, the sleeve 15 advantageously extends around the bottomportion of the reservoir, i.e. around the bottom 25 of said reservoir20. The sleeve 15 may be annular, but it is preferably formed by aplurality of splines that are spaced apart from one another and thatdefine a hollow annular shape. In order to avoid risking said reservoirblocking during actuation, the sleeve 15 is arranged around thereservoir with a small gap. This structure presents a drawback in thatthe slightest shaking of the device causes the reservoir to rattle orvibrate inside said sleeve, with associated noises of the rattling type.Firstly, this may be annoying during actuation. Secondly, this may givethe user the impression that the device is fragile or is poorlyassembled or of poor quality. In order to overcome this drawback, aresilient element 425, such as a resilient blade, may be provided,adapted to co-operate with said reservoir 20 so as to urge it against aside and/or against a spline of said sleeve 15, as shown in FIG. 8. Theforce of the resilient blade 425 is selected so as to avoid thereservoir vibrating or rattling, but without creating any stronginteractions between said reservoir and said sleeve, so as to avoidhindering actuation. Since there is only limited contact between thereservoir and the sleeve, the friction generated by the interaction isnegligible. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the resilient blade is preferablyformed on the presser element 42 and co-operates with the reservoir 20outside said sleeve 15. Naturally, other variants can be envisaged. Forexample, the resilient element could be made in some other way, e.g.separate from the presser element, and it could co-operate with thereservoir within the sleeve.

Thus, the resilient blade 425 that urges the reservoir against the body,associated with the resilient blade 415 that urges the actuator elementaway from the presser element, guarantee minimum noise generation duringactuation, and give the user the overall impression of a device that isof high quality and robust, substantially eliminating the rattling orvibrating noises that are typical of devices provided with lateralactuator systems.

Another advantageous aspect relates to assembling the device. FIGS. 9 to13 show various assembly steps, FIGS. 10 to 13 being highly diagrammaticso as to simplify understanding of the various steps. As can be seen inFIG. 10, the body 10, the head 100, and the lateral actuator system 40may be pre-assembled so as to form a first pre-assembled unit. Inaddition, the dispenser member 30 may be fastened on the reservoir 20 bymeans of the fastener ring 60, thus forming a second assembled unit.When the second unit is inserted into the first unit, as showndiagrammatically by the arrow in FIG. 10, the actuator element 41 thatis urged into contact against the guide surface 50 by the resilientelement 415, is moved against the resilient element 415, so as to enablethe dispenser member 30 to be assembled in the dispenser head 100, asshown by FIG. 11. In a variant, the head 100 could be assembled on theunit formed by the reservoir and the pump, and then this sub-assemblycould be assembled in the unit formed by the body and the lateralactuator system.

Advantageously, the lateral actuator system 40 includes a pre-assembledposition in which the presser element 42 is mounted on the body 10 in apre-assembled position that is axially offset from its final assembledposition. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a blocking portion 17 of the body10, which blocking portion is adapted to co-operate with a pre-assemblyportion 47 of the presser element 42 in the pre-assembled position, soas to block the lateral actuator system 40. When said presser element 42is moved from its pre-assembled position to its assembled position, thepre-assembly portion 47 of the presser element 42 no longer co-operateswith said blocking portion 17 of the body and becomes positioned abovesaid blocking portion as shown in the righthand side of FIG. 9. Thepivot axis A of the presser element 42 then becomes operational in itspivot position. Thus, in the position in FIG. 12, the reservoir unit isassembled in the body/head unit, but the presser element 42 is in itspre-assembled position. The lateral actuator system 40 is thusnon-operational and any accidental actuation has no effect. Inparticular, the blocking portion 17 of the body 10 blocks any actuationof the presser element 42 in the pre-assembled position. This structurethus provides, in particular, effective security when transporting thedevice, even after the reservoir unit has been assembled in thebody/head unit. Any actuation of the device is blocked in this position.When assembly is to be made permanent, the presser element 42 is movedaxially upwards into the position shown in FIG. 13, and this enables theactuator element 41 to take up its operational position below the radialflange 61 and on the outside of the axial sleeve 63 of the fastener ring60. The fact that the resilient element 415 resiliently urges theactuator element 41 away from the presser element 42 guarantees safe andreliable assembly as soon as the presser element 42 is moved from itspre-assembled position to its assembled position. Advantageously, thepresser element 42 is moved from its pre-assembled position to itsassembled position when the bottom portion 10′ of the body is assembledon the body 10. Naturally, when the body is made as a single part, othermeans may be provided for moving the presser element to its assembledposition.

The pre-assembled position of the presser element 42 thus providesseveral advantages. Firstly, it provides security when transporting thedevice. Furthermore, it guarantees reliable assembly for any type ofdispenser member, in particular a pump. Pumps can have differentactuation strokes. In the absence of a pre-assembled position, while thereservoir/pump unit is being assembled in the body/head unit, the pumpis actuated so as to enable the actuator element 41 to become positionedbelow the radial flange 61 of the fastener ring 60. However, with a pumphaving a very small actuation stroke, there would be a risk of assemblynot being achieved correctly. With the presser element 42 in itspre-assembled position when the reservoir/pump unit is assembled in thebody/head unit, correct assembly is guaranteed when the presser element42 is moved from its pre-assembled position to its assembled position.Assembling the actuator element 41 below the radial flange 61 is thusnot dependent on the actuation stroke of the pump that may varydepending on the pump, but on the movement of the presser elementbetween its pre-assembled and assembled positions, which movement isconstant and predetermined. Correct assembly of the device is thusguaranteed whatever the pump used.

Although the invention is described above with reference to embodimentsthat group together a plurality of aspects described above, naturallythose various aspects could be implemented independently of one another.Other modifications could be envisaged by the person skilled in the art,without going beyond the ambit of the present invention, as defined bythe accompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fluid dispenser device comprising a body,a reservoir, a dispenser head incorporating a dispenser orifice, and adispenser member that is mounted on said reservoir by a fastener ring,said dispenser member comprising a dispenser-member body and a movablemember that moves axially in said dispenser-member body while saiddispenser member is being actuated, said device further comprising alateral actuator system that is secured to said body, said systemincluding an actuator element that is movable, substantiallytransversally to the direction of movement of said movable member,between a rest position in which said dispenser member is not actuated,and an actuated position in which said dispenser member is actuated,said lateral actuator system including a presser element that is mountedon the body to pivot about a first axis, said actuator element beingmounted on said presser element to pivot about a second axis that issubstantially parallel to said first axis, wherein said actuator elementco-operates with said presser element by means of a multi-directionalball joint that both enables said actuator element to pivot about thesecond axis, and also enables said actuator element to move relative tosaid presser element in at least one other direction.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said multi-directional ball joint includesa hollow housing that is rounded at least in part and that is formed onsaid presser element, said actuator element including a complementaryprofile that co-operates with said hollow housing, forming an annularlinear connection piece between said actuator element and said presserelement, enabling said actuator element to pivot on said presser elementabout the second axis, and enabling said actuator element to move intranslation on said presser element along said second axis.
 3. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein said actuator element may pivotrelative to said presser element about third axis that is substantiallyperpendicular to said second axis.
 4. The device according to claim 2,wherein said hollow housing is in the shape of a rounded groove thatextends in the direction of the second axis, and the complementaryprofile formed on the actuator element includes a rounded shape that isadapted to pivot in said groove and to move in translation along saidgroove.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein saidmulti-directional ball joint includes abutment means, so as to limitsaid pivoting about the third axis.
 6. The device according to claim 5,wherein said abutment means comprise two supports that are formed onsaid presser element, projecting from each side of said hollow housing,and co-operating with a respective portion of the actuator element so asto define the end positions for pivoting about said third axis.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said body includes at least oneguide surface for guiding said actuator element, said at least one guidesurface being stationary relative to said dispenser head andsubstantially parallel to an axis of movement of the movable member inthe dispenser-member body while said dispenser member is being actuated,said actuator element including at least one end edge that is preferablyrounded and that co-operates with said at least one guide surface. 8.The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator element includesat least one flank that extends substantially from the second axis ofsaid actuator element to said guide surface, the end edge of said flankbeing rounded and sliding over said guide surface during actuation, eachflank including a radial projection that extends on one side of saidflank in the proximity of its end edge, said radial projection having atop edge that is preferable rounded and that co-operates with saidradial flange of said fastener ring.
 9. The device according to claim 8,wherein said actuator element includes two flanks that extend parallelto each other, said radial projections facing each other.
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said actuator element includes a resilientelement that co-operates with said presser element so as to urge saidactuator element away from said presser element.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the resilient element is a resilientblade.
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuatorelement of the lateral actuator system co-operates directly with saidfastener ring during actuation.
 13. The device according to claim 1,wherein the dispenser member is a pump or a valve.